PEOPLE: International Journal of Social Sciences ISSN 2454-5899 Sangeeta Tripathi, 2017 Volume 3 Issue 1, pp. 424 - 435 Date of Publication: 20th March, 2017 DOI-https://dx.doi.org/10.20319/pijss.2017.s31.424435 This paper can be cited as: Tripathi, S. (2017). Role of Bollywood Cinema in Promoting Tourism, Business and Intercultural Communication in Arab World: A Study with Oman. PEOPLE: International Journal of Social Sciences, 3(1), 424-435. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ or send a letter to Creative Commons, PO Box 1866, Mountain View, CA 94042, USA. ROLE OF BOLLYWOOD CINEMA IN PROMOTING TOURISM, BUSINESS AND INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION IN ARAB WORLD: A STUDY WITH OMAN Sangeeta Tripathi College of Applied Sciences, Salalah, Ministry of Higher Education, Sultanate of Oman [email protected] Abstract Bollywood cinema is the replica of Indian culture purely produced for the sake of entertainment. Indian movies seem promoting intercultural communication as it shows reflection of cultural exchange from language to realm of food, music to architecture, geographical beauty to film canvas. Due to the inclusion of different countries’ cultures, Indian movies reduce the cultural shock and create a sense of closeness and warmness even in small conversations with strangers. Displayed marvelous sight scenes on big canvas of Hindi cinema attract audience and compel them to plan their vacations to that particular destination. In this way, it promotes tourism and other business in the country. The purpose of this study is to explore the threads which are vital in promoting tourism, business and intercultural communication in Arab countries. It will also examine how Bollywood cinema is influencing international audience’s subliminal mind to attract tourism and business. The paper will also discover the impact of Bollywood cinema on Omani youth and their living style. For research findings, observation and survey methods are applied. Samples are collected from different age group for variation of data to test hypotheses and get scientific result. 424 PEOPLE: International Journal of Social Sciences ISSN 2454-5899 Keywords Bollywood, Intercultural Communication, Culture, Cinema, Business, Tourism. 1. Introduction Indian Film Industry, notably, Bollywood is considered as the biggest film industry in the world. (Mitter Sohini, 2012)(Stephen Follows, 2015)In term of film production, box office collection and employment, Bollywood has higher position than Hollywood. Indian Film Industry produces approximately 1500 small and full length movies in a year. Box office collection, as on year 2014, indicates that Bollywood is representing 43% of its share among all while Tamil films industry share 36%, and other regional cinema share 21%(Indian Forbes)(Film Data and Education). (The statistics Portal, 2016)The value of Indian Cinema is increasing every year. In 2012, it was 112.4 billion Indian Rupees which became 125.3 billion in 2013. It is estimated nearly 158.7 billion in 2016 and 227.3 billion by 2020 (The statistics Portal© Statista). Bollywood movies, which are famous across the globe, are increasing as vast economic empire. It has been turned into multi- pronged such as production, finance, infrastructure, marketing and distribution. It has also been seen in recent years that the craze of Indian movies travelled overseas and made export sale higher than domestic sale. That’s why the collection of Hindi movies cross 200, 300, 400 crores easily. Australia, Africa, China, Pakistan, European and Arabic countries are prominent audience for Bollywood movies. (The National, 2014)It increases the craze of Indian cine stars and inroad them to Hollywood. Deepika Padukone, Priyanka Chopara, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Irrfan Khan like stars have started working in Hollywood movies (The National, UAE). (Planet Bollywood)Another reason of Indian movies’ popularity is wide spread Indian Diaspora. They influence other nationals and attract them towards Hindi cinema and its popular culture. That’s why India has been established as brand of culture across the globe. Indian movies also offer effective communication skills and strategies to welcome cross cultural issues. It helps to improve tourism and business as it offers a big canvas and sight scene to understand geographical beauty and culture diversity of India. A huge influence of different countries’ culture can be seen on Indian movies too. Ali Baba Chalis Chor, Hatim Tai, Alif Laila (Tele- Series) and Laila Majnu, EkTha Tiger are some Bollywood productions which were hugely inspired by Arabic Culture and seemed bridging the gap between India and Arabic countries to manage overseas relations. In line to intercultural communication, it shows reflection of cultural exchange from language to realm of food, array of music to architecture, geographical beauty to film canvas. These films reduce cultural shocks and create a sense of closeness even in small conversation with strangers. (Bhaswati Mukherjee, 425 PEOPLE: International Journal of Social Sciences ISSN 2454-5899 2015)(Jose K Antony, 2015) Displayed sight scenes in Hindi movies attract audience and compel them to plan that destination for their upcoming holidays. In this way, it promotes tourism and other business (Jose K. Antony and Rashmi, 2015) (Doris Blaha, 2012). 1.1. Significance of Present Study The present study facilitates understanding regarding an emerging trend in selection of holiday destination which is hugely influenced by movies. On the other hand, it sheds light upon the impact of Indian movies in enhancing intercultural communication between India and Oman. 1.2. Objective Major objectives of the paper are- 1. To explore the thread in promoting Tourism, Business and Intercultural Communication between India and Arab Countries 2. To discover the impact of Bollywood Cinema on Omani youth and their living style. 2. Literature Review- India and Oman Relations Now and Then India and Oman both countries are sharing trade and business relations from ancient period.(Port Services Corporation) Since then, Omani people were travelling to India and other Asian countries through sea for trading magnificent vessels; valuable commodities like Frankincense and Copper. They used to bring spices, tea, gold, silk and ivory in exchange. During their business travel, these Sailors used to meet, interact and display their product to different country’s people and get influenced by their culture too (Port Service Corporation, S.A.O.G). During 15th century, Ahmed Bin Majid had become so famous for sea trading. He was considered as the master of sea and got credit also to guide Vasco De Gama. Many literature writers got inspired with this Arabian Sailor and wrote many famous imaginary characters in their literature. The stories of Sindbad the sailor had become very famous in Asian and Arabian countries. This imaginary character is also well portrayed in Indian TV serial Alif Laila produced by Ramanand Sagar. 2D animation movie produced by Afzal Ahmed Khan is also very famous among children. (Times of Oman, 2016)At present, Oman and India both the countries are focusing on expanding their bilateral trade and investment in many ways. India is having cost-effective and labour-intensive economy. Its strong manufacturing and export oriented industrial framework makes it an attractive destination for investors. Along with this, Oman is also an attractive market and India’s largest trade and investment partner with exports worth $2.37 billion in 2014-15 (The Times of Oman, 2016). 426 PEOPLE: International Journal of Social Sciences ISSN 2454-5899 2.1 Bollywood as entwining culture of India and Arabic Countries (Bhaswati Mukherjee, 2015) (Live Sciences, 2015)India is a culturally wealthier country with graceful living pattern and sharing its heritage with near about 1440 dialects and 18 official languages, various styles of arts, architecture, literature, music, dance and splendid rituals (Bhaswati Mukherjee, 2015) (Live Sciences, 2015 @ livescience.com). Several of the world best known festivals exist in India and all Indians are celebrating it with social cohesion which encourage and establish a sense of identity and kind of inter-relation to one another. It makes India a nation of unity in diversity. These same cultural values are being demonstrated in Bollywood movies and transmitting wealth of knowledge from one generation to other generation. Bollywood popular cultures have become binding elements not only among diasporic Indians but other International communities. Indian immigrants, living across the globe are sharing similarity of experiences while watching Indian movies which contributes in construction global popular culture. (Port Services Corporation)Middle East has always connected to India with business and trade reason. Due to trading connection, Indian and Arabic people are enough exposed to each other. They find it inter- related in terms of family values, festival celebration and a few rituals. Cultural similarity like patriarchal society, hospitality, inequality between men and women, highly religious attitude, considering women as honor of the family, respect aged people, leaving parents’ house after marriage of a girl and staying with husband, women attire- aabaya, Salwar Kameez, Shela are some similarity of India and Arabic societies which connect them with Bollywood strongly